Bass guitar strings are an important factor in the overall sound of the instrument and are available in various gauges or thicknesses. The choice of gauge depends on a variety of criteria. In a nutshell, bass strings can be broken down into three main categories which are light gauge, medium gauge and heavy gauge.
The light gauges are much easier to play and the notes will fret without too much pressure due to the relatively small diameter of the strings. However, this is a double edged sword as the smaller diameter also means that the magnetic pick-up has a lesser amount of raw material to amplify and therefore the sound and volume will be diminished when compared to a thicker gauge of string.
Bass players therefore often try a few different gauges and brands of strings until they arrive at one that they are most comfortable with. Using products such as Fast Fret and String Lubricant and cleaner can extend the life of the strings which start to degrade once natural oils, acids and dust particles within the skin seep into the string and reduce its natural resonance until they become dull and unresponsive.